1 Polk restaurant closed for rodent droppings and another is warned for ... a bullfrog?
One Polk County restaurant was ordered closed by inspectors because of rodent activity from Nov. 6 to 19, according to state inspections reports.
Lakeland Panda World, 6214 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland, in the shopping center on the northwest corner of U.S. 98 and Daughtery Road, was given an emergency order to temporarily close on Nov. 7 after an inspector noted about 120 rodent droppings inside and near the dry storage closet, along the side of the walk-in cooler and near the fryer on the cookline. Of the restaurant’s four total violations, this was the only high-priority violation. In a follow-up inspection the following day, it passed with zero violations.
The restaurant has a long history of meeting standards in inspections dating to 2019. But it was closed by inspectors in Feb. 2019 for one day because of roach activity. Later that year, in July, it received a warning with a required follow-up inspection, but none of its eight violations were for insects or rodents. It cleared the follow-up inspection with zero violations and has met standards in every inspection since then - until this month.
In all, 15 Polk County restaurants received violations that required follow-up inspections. The warnings were for a wide variety of violations, such as soiled utensils or equipment that’s not working correctly, food stored in unsafe conditions, or clerical type violations, such as failure to provide proof of certification or required state training.
Rodents, insects or other pests showed up in only four inspection reports for the two-week period. And in two of those cases, the restaurants’ overall inspections were solid enough to meet standards with no follow-up required.
Where did pests show up?
Flavor Nation, 817 N. Massachusetts Ave., Lakeland, received an oddball gig on Nov. 7 for a “pest” of a different kind: a bullfrog under the three-compartment sink. It was one of three high-priority violations among 16 total violations. The other two high priority violations were for raw eggs stored over ready-to-eat cooked beef in the reach-in cooler and potato salad that was stored above 41 degrees. A follow-up inspection was required. On Nov. 14, the restaurant was given an extension to fix three violations – one basic (a back door that isn’t self-closing), and two intermediate (both training or licensing issues).
>> INTERACTIVE: Explore all restaurant inspections in Polk County.
Ling's Buffet, 4320 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland, received five violations on Nov. 7. Two of those were high-priority and for the same incident: insects found in an opened bag of Pillsbury XXX Patent Flour. (One gig was for the insects, the other for the stop sale that was issued on the flour.) The flour was discarded and the restaurant met standards.
Beef O'Brady's, 902 Old Polk City Road, Haines City, received 13 violations, two of them high-priority on Nov. 16. One high-priority violation was for a single live roach found on the premises. The other was for butane cans stored over single-service items.
According to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and inspection report is a “snapshot of conditions present at the time of the inspection” and isn’t necessarily indicative of long-term conditions at the restaurant.
Oct. 2 to Nov. 5: 5 Polk restaurants warned for signs of rodents or insects. 36 log perfect inspections
Perfect inspections
Meanwhile, the number of restaurants, food trucks or other vendors that received perfect inspections for the two-week period outnumbered those with warnings or administrative complaints that required follow-up. There were 20 such establishments in Polk County from Nov. 6 to 19.
Hernandez Kitchen, mobile food vendor, 3616 U.S. 92, Lakeland
Purple Panda Creamery, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland
Taste Of Home Grill, 200 Post Ave. SW, Winter Haven
Royal Breakfast Bar, 200 Post Ave. SW, Unit H, Winter Haven
El Rincon Familiar, mobile food vendor, 2255 U.S. 17-92, Haines City
Eleventh Tee SNK Bar, 2300 N. Scenic Highway, Lake Wales
Twisted Teapot, 200 1st St. S., Winter Haven
La Olla Del Cafe Restaurant, 444 U.S. 17-92, Haines City
Black Sheep BBQ and Catering, caterer, 702 E. Orange St., Lakeland
Hoppin Poppin Mini Donuts, mobile food vendor, 4376 Old Berkley Road, Auburndale
Gary's Oyster Bar Shuck Truck, mobile food vendor, 660 East Alfred Drive, Lake Alfred
Fritango Nicaraguan Cuisine, caterer, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland (Catapult)
Five Guys, 600 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven
Garden Gate Bed and Breakfast, 449 County Road 640, Homeland
Blue Dog Craft Barbecue, caterer, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland (Catapult)
Domino's 3872, 104 N. Commonwealth Ave. Suite 2, Polk City
Hi Lumpia Fl, caterer, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland (Catapult)
Stillwater Preserve Development, 5000 Glove Trail, Bowling Green
Sweets By Norris, mobile food vendor, 2803 Recker Highway, Winter Haven
Jersey Mikes Subs, 8258 Championsgate Blvd., Davenport
Sept. 18 to Oct. 5: 2 Polk restaurants closed by inspectors, one for the second time this year for rodents
Almost perfect
Don’t let those 20 perfect inspections fool you. It’s tough to get through an inspection with no violations at all.
For instance, La Tri Color, a mobile food truck at 444 U.S. 17-92 N., Haines City, had a single violation on Nov. 15: “Mobile food dispensing vehicle license number not permanently affixed on the side of the unit in figures at least 2 inches high and in contrasting colors from the background of the vehicle,” according to the inspection report. In four inspections dating to Feb. 2021, it’s the third time the vendor has had only one violation.
Here’s a look at the other 17 establishments that were oh-so-close to perfection, with only one violation:
Mexican Bar, 2511 U.S. 17-92 North, Haines City, had one violation on Nov. 17, for lacking a chemical test kit when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink or warewashing machine.
Union Taproom, 245 W. Central Ave. #102, Winter Haven, was gigged Nov. 17 for storing a bag of food on the floor near the oven.
The Coop, 1475 N. Scenic Highway, Babson Park, had one violation on Nov. 17 for soiled hood vents.
Papa John's #2195, 2105 County Road 540A, Lakeland, received a single violation on Nov. 15: standing water on the floor near the pizza reach-in cooler.
Wingstop 1994, 4217 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On Nov. 15, the restaurant’s lone violation was failing to provide paper towels at the handwash sink. Paper towels were replaced, but the gig remained.
Taco Bell # 157, 5090 Dave Robbins Way, Lakeland, had a single violation on Nov. 15, for pans that were properly air-dried on a shelf in the dishwasher area.
Chick-Fil-A, 4625 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland, was nearly perfect on Nov. 15. The only violation: an employee preparing chicken without wearing a hairnet.
Silvermoon Drive In Theatre, New Tampa Highway Box 73, Lakeland, had a single violation Nov. 14 for a lack of paper towels at a handwash sink.
Firehouse Subs North Lakeland, 4141 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland: On Nov. 14, an inspector determined red cutting boards had enough cut marks that it was no longer cleanable.
Decisions Grill & Bar, 1621 E Edgewood Drive, Lakeland: On Nov. 14, the restaurant was gigged for a soiled wall near the cookline.
Jet's Pizza, 3234 S. Florida Ave. Suite A, Lakeland: On Nov. 14, an inspector said containers of food removed from original containers were not identified by the common name. A labeling issue.
Lake Henry Estates, 684 Dyson Road, Haines City: On Nov. 14, an inspector said single-service articles in dry storage weren’t stored inverted or protected from contamination.
La Guapachosa, 6595 S Florida Ave. Suite 9, Lakeland, received a single gig on Nov. 14 because an employee’s cell phone was placed on a cutting board. The phone was removed and the cutting board sanitized.
Jaltate Aqui O Comete Este, a food truck at 1325 Pinewood Ave., Lakeland, had a single violation Nov. 14 because there was “no conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit.”
Burger King #18216, 109 E Van Fleet Drive, Bartow, received a single violation Nov. 9 for clear, plastic containers that weren’t properly air dried.
La Michoacana, 1264 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow, had an in-use scoop that was stored in water at 89 degrees, which is less than the required 135 degrees.
Hungry Howies Pizza & Subs #122, 387 Havendale Blvd., Auburndale, received a single violation for a floor that had debris “under and behind equipment.”
Panera Bread Cafe 6259, 1271 Posner Blvd., Davenport, had a single violation when an inspector noticed an employee fix a trash bag in a can, then handle clean dishes without changing gloves. The employee was coached on the spot.
TL's Old Place LLC, 2390 Ave G NW, Winter Haven: Its only violation on Nov. 7 was an outdoor dumpster that was overflowing.
Carpenters Home Estates Inc., a mobile food vendor at 1001 Carpenters Way, Lakeland, was gigged Nov. 7 for its vehicle license number not being displayed properly.
Streamsong Golf Clubhouse BBQ Shack, 3000 Dunes Pass, Streamsong, had one violation on Nov. 6: Its chemical test kit, required when using sanitizer, was soiled and couldn’t be used.
Keep in mind as you read
Remember that in some cases, violations are noted are technical issues not directly linked to hygiene or cleanliness. Remember, too, that broken refrigerators, chipped tiles or fast work may add up to unintended mistakes.
Regardless, if you notice abuses of state standards, report them and DBPR will send inspectors. Call 1-850-487-1395.
The terminology
What does all that terminology in state restaurant inspections mean?
Basic violations are those considered against best practices.
A warning is issued after an inspector documents violations that must be corrected by a certain date or within a specified number of days from receipt of the inspection report.
An administrative complaint is a form of legal action taken by the division. Insufficient compliance after a warning, a pattern of repeat violations or existence of serious conditions that warrant immediate action may result in the division initiating an administrative complaint against the establishment. Says the division website: “Correcting the violations is important, but penalties may still result from violations corrected after the warning time was over.”
An emergency order — when a restaurant is closed by the inspector — is based on an immediate threat to the public. Here, the Division of Hotels and Restaurants director has determined that the establishment must stop doing business and any division license is suspended to protect health, safety or welfare of the public.
A 24-hour call-back inspection will be performed after an emergency closure or suspension of license and the establishment may reopen only after inspection shows that all high-priority violations that caused the suspension are corrected.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: 1 Polk restaurant closed for rodent droppings, while 20 are perfect
